Shielded crib for babies



Sept. 4, 1951 v. s. MERDIAN 2,566,737

SHIELDED CRIB FOR BABIES Filed Aug. 30, 1948 25 mm 15. ZZLrQQ/an.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PAT N OFFICE SHIELDED CRIB FORQBABIEIS Virginia S. Merdian, Moline, Ill. Application August 30, 1948, Serial No. 46,740

lClaiin. (01 5-98) 1 The present invention relates generally to babies cribs or bassinettes and has for its principal object the provision of a novel and improved babys crib which protects the baby from drafts and shades its face from direct sunlight but permits adequate'circulation of fresh air and provides controlled application of sunshine on the babys body.

It is well known that direct sunshine on the babys body is beneficial and necessary to its health and physical development, but that drafts are harmful and direct sunlight is injurious to the eyes and uncomfortable if allowed to fall directly on the babys face for extended periods of time. Insofar as applicant is aware, no facilities are now available for sunning a baby with"- out hazard from drafts. A conventional crib or basket has no such provision, and while it is customary to drape blankets over the sides of the crib it is diflicult to arrange them so that adequate sunshine will fall upon the babys body if sufficient protection against drafts is afforded. Conventional baby buggies have a sunshade at one end but do not prevent drafts from sweeping the other end of the buggy.

is extending between the peripheral members and rigidly. fixed thereto, as by welding or other suitable means. The frame members ll, l2, [3 are preferably'of tubular construction, using a light metal such as aluminum or magnesium, although other material such as wood can be used if desired; The side and end walls of the frame are fo'rmed of spaced vertical rods or bars l4 extending between the upper and lower members I i, I2 and formed of metal, wood, or other suitable material.

- The bottom [5 of the cribis shown as a solid sheet of metal or plywood mounted on the lower peripheral-member [2 in the plane thereof, although any other such as a slatted construction may be-employed, if desired. 7

In the accomplishment of this object, I have W provided a crib having a pair of opposed shields at the two ends thereof, with adjustable means for positioning the shields at angles such that drafts will be deflected over the top of the crib.

The shields are spaced apart to permit sunshine to fall therebetween upon the baby's body. One of the shields also serves as a sunshield for the baby's face.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent after a consideration of the following description, in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the frame of a crib embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the frame;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the covering for one of the shields;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the covering for the crib walls; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the crib and cover assembly with diagrammatic illustration of the action of sun and wind.

Referring now to the drawings, the crib comprises a frame in including upper and lower peripheral frame members ll, 12, generally rectangular in form, and vertical corner members The body ofthe cribis supported in conveniently elevated position on'four legs [8, each leg being foldably connected to the lower frame member l2 by a hinge l1, and'secured in' generally vertical position by a brace comprising a pair of links l3, l9 pivoted at 20, 2| to the associated leg .l6' and .low'erframe member [2, respectively, and interconnected by a clamping bolt 22. Each leg has a rubber'cap or foot piece 23 on its lower end to prevent slipping.

The side and end walls of the crib are protected from drafts by a flexible covering of fabric 25 (Figure. 5), preferably formed in one piece and supported at the four upper corners of the crib by ties 25 engagingthe upper frame member II, the covering thus hanging outside the vertical frame members 13 and bars l4. Other ties may, of course, be providedwhere necessary. The covering 25 is preferably of oiled silk or similar translucent fabric or plastic material through which the babys position can be observed.

A pocket 21 is provided in the covering 25 for holding a small thermometer 28 by which the temperature in the crib can be observed.

The crib is provided with a pair of shields or deflectors 30, 3|, extending along the upper edges of the end walls, respectively. Each shield comprises a generally rectangular peripheral frame member 32 of tubular metal construction formed in a single plane. The shield is substantially coextensive with the end wall of the crib, which is shorter than the adjacent side walls thereof. Each shield is mounted on the upper frame member I I by means of hinges 33, 34, thus providing for swinging movement from a vertical position in the plane of the associated end wall inwardly to a substantially horizontal position on the upper member I l over the bottom l5 of the crib. With both shields 30, 3t folded in wardly over the crib, there is a substantial space between the inner edges of the shields to admit sunshine, by virtue of the fact that each shield is appreciably shorter than one half the length of the crib.

Each shield is provided with a pair of folding braces 35, 35', each brace comprisinga pair of links 35, 31 pivoted at 38, 39 to the side of the shield frame 32 and, upper crib frame member II, respectively, and interconnected by a clamping b01t 40. With the bolts 40 loosened, the shields can be shifted to any desired angle relative to the crib frame, after which they can be secured in adjusted position b tightening the clamping bolts 40.

Each shield is provided with a flexible covering 43 (Figure 4), of fabric such as oiled silk or other similar fabric or plastic material. A colored oiled silk is preferable, to restrict passage of the intense sunlight. The outer corners of the fabric covering 43 are securable to the outer corners of the shield frame 32by' ties 44', and the inner edge of the covering is folded under at 45 to form a pocket into which the inner edge of the shield frame 32 is'inserted I Each shield cover 43 is provided with side flaps or extensionsv 46, which hang from the side edges of. the frame 32 and can, be attached to the upper crib. frame member H by ties 41. These side flaps afiord additional protection from drafts. The shields can be lowered to horizontal position with the flaps tied down, but. the ties 41 may be released to permit the'shields to be raised to vertical position.

The baby is laid on the bottom of the crib upon any suitable pador mattress (not shown) and the crib is moved; into a position with. one end facing into the wind. The head end shield 30 is raised to an upwardly and inwardly inclined position in which the babys eyes are shielded from the sun, and is secured by the clamping bolts 40. The foot end'shield 31 is then raised to an inclined position in which the air currents are deflected over the crib and over the head shield as indicated by arrows-l8 in Figure 6.

The sun is indicated diagrammatically by reference numeral'49, its rays being indicated at 50. The inner edges of the inclined shields 30, 3| are spaced far enough apart to allow the sun's rays to fall upon the body of the child but the head-shield 3i) shades the eyes. Theside flaps 46 aid in preventing drafts in the crib but there is suflicient 4 circulation of air through the top to keep the air fresh in the crib.

I do not intend my invention to be limited to the particular details shown and described herein, except as set forth in the claim which follows.

I claim? A babys crib comprising, in combination, a bottom, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls and a pair of oppositely disposed end walls rising from said bottom, the upper edges ofv said walls terminating in horizontal bars lying substantially in a common plane, a translucent fabric covering for each of said walls, a pair of shields extending along the upper edges of said end walls, respectively, each of said shields comprising a generally rectangular frame hingedly connected to its associated end wall providing for vertical swinging movement inwardly over said bottom, to a closed horizontal position, on the upper edges of said walls, said shields having a combined length appreciably less than the length of said sidewallswhereby the inner edges of said shields are spaced apart in said closed position, a translucent fabric covering'for each shield frame, each shield covering being provided with side flaps which, hang from the side edges of the frames and have ties for securing the inner corners, of the flaps to the upper bars of the side walls to shield the interior from drafts with the shields disposed in oppositely inclined positions but releasable to permit theshields to be raised to vertical positions, and means adjustably securing each of said shields in any of several angular positions within their ranges of movement about their hinge axes.

VIRGINIA S. MERDIAN.

REFERENCES I CITED The following, references. are of'record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

